Building Supporting Framework, In Particular High Structure Supporting Framework

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a building supporting framework, in particular a high structure supporting framework comprising a certain number of vertical supports ( 2 ) and a certain number of horizontal beams ( 3, 4 ) mutually extending transversal directions (X, Y) and stacked on each other on different planes. The vertical supports are ( 2 ) and the beams ( 3, 4 ) are embodied in the form of metal sections comprising; at least partially; at least one cavity ( 5, 6; 7; 16 ). The cavities ( 5, 6 ) embodied in the vertical support ( ) and the cavities ( 7, 16 ) embodied in the beams ( 3, 4 ) are used for receiving fluid transporting conduits ( 9; 24; 26; 29 ). At intersections, where said vertical supports ( 2 ) and beams ( 3, 4 ) cross each other or converge, they are mutually connected in such a way that the fluid transporting conduits are directed in three spatial directions (X, Y, Z) through the supporting structure ( 1 ), thereby simplifying a building process.

The invention relates to a building supporting framework, in particulara high structure supporting framework according to the preamble of claim1.

In principle, every building contains a supporting framework consistingof a number of vertical supports and a number of horizontal beams,running at right angles to each other in XY-directions, which arearranged in several superimposed planes. The buildings are alsoindividually fitted with electrical installations, water pipes, airconditioning systems and/or ventilation conduits etc., thefluid-transporting conduits being passed through shafts or buildingwalls. Later conversions or refits are normally associated withconsiderable conversion expense.

The present invention is based on the problem of creating a supportingframework for a building, especially for a design with multiple floors,which simplifies the equipment of the building with fluid-transportingconduits and also enables simple refitting.

This problem is solved according to the invention by a supportingframework with the features of claim 1.

Further preferred embodiments of the inventive supporting framework formthe subject matter of the dependent claims.

The supporting framework according to the invention with integratedfluid conduits which can be passed in all three spatial and/or frameworkdimensions through the supporting framework, allows for a modularconstruction of buildings, which can not only be equipped in simplefashion, but can also be refitted at any time, for example for office,commercial, clinical practice, training, hotel or residential purposes,thus guaranteeing a broad neutrality of use and that long-term projectscan be designed. The supply of fluids can be expanded, refitted orscaled back, and also optimised in terms of energy, at any time.

The invention will next be explained in more detail with the aid of thedrawings, which show:

FIG. 1 an embodiment of a supporting framework for a building;

FIG. 2 in perspectival view, an intersection of the supporting frameworkaccording to the invention, with a vertical support, with horizontalbeams, with a ceiling construction and with fluid-transporting conduits;

FIG. 3 a horizontal section through the vertical support according toFIG. 2 above the beams;

FIG. 4 a section along line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 a section along line V-V in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 a vertical section through the intersection according to FIG. 2,through one of the horizontal beams;

FIG. 7 a horizontal section through the intersection according to FIG.2, through both horizontal beams; and

FIG. 8 a building section with a fluid-transporting supporting frameworkin top view.

In FIG. 1 a supporting framework 1 for a building is shown whichcomprises a number of vertical supports 2 and a number of horizontalbeams 3, 4 running at right angles to each other in XY-directions. Thehorizontal beams 3, 4 are arranged in several levels superimposed oneach other.

FIG. 2 shows an intersection of the supporting framework 1 according tothe invention in which two beams 3 running horizontally in theX-direction and two beams 4 running horizontally in the Y-direction areattached to a vertical support 2 running in direction Z, i.e.vertically. Obviously, only three horizontal beams 3 and 4 could befastened to the outer vertical supports 2 of the supporting framework 1per level and, in the corner area, even just two beams 3, 4. In theembodiment shown, short beams also project out from the outer verticalsupports 2 and/or from the corner supports, which can serve, forexample, to attach lateral coverings, faqades, insulation etc. Thesemay, however, also be omitted.

Both the vertical supports 2 as well as the beams 3, 4 are e.g. embodiedas profiles made of metal (preferably steel) or from other suitablematerials, which are e.g. welded together from sheets of metal, andwhich each at least partially enclose at least one cavity, which areprovided according to the invention to receive fluid-transportingconduits, in particular electricity, water, waste water, networking,ventilation and/or other conduits. As can be seen in particular fromFIGS. 2 and 3, for example the vertical support 2 is embodied as aprofile with an H-shaped cross-section and, in said H-shaped example,has two side walls 2 a, 2 b and a central wall 2 c connecting the sidewalls 2 a, 2 b, as the result of which two vertical cavities 5, 6 areformed, separated from each other by the central wall 2 c, but connectedto each other as necessary by openings. Fluid-transporting conduits,e.g. water pipes, can be passed through the cavities 5, 6, in directionZ, as shown in FIG. 2 and 3 using the example of the conduit 9 passedthrough the cavity 6. The vertical support 2 could also be produced witha cross-section made from different profiles, open or closed.

A supporting framework 4 running in Y direction is fastened on each ofthe side walls 2 a, 2 b of the vertical support 2, preferably beingscrewed on or otherwise suitably joined, which in cross-sectionessentially contains a U-shaped space and has two webs 4 a, 4 b and aflange 4 c connecting the webs 4 a, 4 b, and encloses the cavity 7 whichis accessible from above and if necessary also from below (cf. FIG. 2and 4). The respective beam 4 is also provided with a pair of uppersupporting surfaces 4 a′, 4 b′, which point inwards toward each otherfrom the profile webs 4 a, 4 b, and also with a pair of lower supportingsurfaces 4 d, 4 e formed by flanges, which are directed outwards asextension of the bottom flanges 4 c connecting the webs 4 a, 4 b. Thesupporting surfaces 4 a′, 4 b′; 4 d, 4 e are used as a rest for aceiling construction 10 (cf. FIG. 2 and 4). According to FIG. 4, a floorconstruction 11 can be laid on the ceiling construction 10, which hasframes 12, via which the cavity 7 can be accessed from above, the frames12 being closable by covers 13. The configuration of the beam 4 cansimilarly also be formed by asymmetrical double-T beams or othersuitable profiles.

The horizontal beams 3 running in direction X are attached from withinonto the side walls 2 a, 2 b of the vertical support 2. These beams 3,too, are embodied in cross-section to enclose an essentially U-shapedspace and have two webs 3 a, 3 b and a bottom flange part 3 c connectingthe webs 3 a, 3 b, which together enclose a cavity 16 (cf. FIG. 2 and5). The webs 3 a, 3 b in turn are provided with inward-projecting uppersupporting surfaces 3 a′, 3 b′ on which the ceiling or floorconstruction 12 can be placed. The configuration of the beam 3 can alsosimilarly be embodied by double-T beams or other suitable profiles.

The cavities 7 and 16 respectively of the horizontal beams 4 and 3 areprovided to receive fluid-transporting conduits, where according to theinvention these cavities 7, 16 are connected with each other and withthe cavities 5, 6 of the vertical supports in such a way that theconduits can be passed in all three spatial or supporting frameworkdimensions X, Y, Z through the supporting framework 1. So, for example,the side walls 2 a, 2 b of the vertical support 2 are provided withthrough-openings 20 at intersections which can be seen especiallyclearly from FIG. 4, 6 and 7, via which the cavities 7 of the beam 4oriented in Y-direction are connected to the vertical cavities 5, 6 inthe vertical support 2. The cavities 16 of the beam 3 running inX-direction also open out into the vertical cavities 5, 6 in theintersections. These cavities 16 are in turn connected to each other viaone or more through-openings 22 made in the central wall 2 c of thevertical support 2 (FIG. 2, 5 and 7).

Thus, for example, a fluid-transporting conduit 26 can be passed via thethrough-opening 22 in X-direction (transversely through the verticalcavities 5, 6) from one beam 3 to the other. A fluid-transportingconduit 24 passed transversely thereto in Y-direction is, for example,passed through one of the through-openings 20 in the side walls 2 a, 2 bof the vertical support 2 (transversely through the vertical cavity 5).Similarly, bifurcation in all three directions X, Y, Z is possible.

At intersections, for example, the fluid-transporting conduit 9 passedthrough the vertical cavity 6 can branch off and the fluid can, forexample, go via a conduit 29 passed through the cavity 16 which runs inX-direction to a further vertical conduit 9′ leading out of the beam 3,which is open at the top, to a terminal unit.

The webs 3 a, 3 b and 4 a, 4 b of the horizontal beam 3, 4 with thespace-enclosing cross-section are advantageously provided with a numberof through-openings 30 and 40, preferably evenly distributed over thebeam length, for fluid-transporting conduits, which connect thehorizontally running cavities 16, 7 with the ceiling construction 10.

The cavities 5, 6 of the vertical support 2 can be closed off outsidethe intersection with covers 41, 42 (FIG. 3). This applies similarly foropenings in closed vertical support profiles. Equally, a cover partiallyor wholly enclosing the vertical support may be given larger dimensionsthan necessary for the cross-section of the vertical support, e.g. toenlarge the cavity for the benefit of the fluid-transporting conduits.

FIG. 8 shows a sample application of the fluid-transporting supportingframework, with six intersections, as described above. An installationspace 45 for fluids such as water, electricity or waste water isarranged above a beam 3 running in X-direction to supply, on the oneside, a bathroom 46 with a washstand 47, a WC 48, a bathtub 49, and onthe other side a kitchen 50 with a cooker 51 and a sink 52. The supplycomes via the fluid-transporting conduits 9, 24, 26, which are passedthrough the supporting framework to the installation space 45 and fromthis to the terminal units. The embodiment should be understood asapplicable to every type of technical building installation.

The supporting framework according to the invention with the integratedfluid-transporting conduits, which can be passed through the supportingframework in all three spatial or supporting framework dimensions,enables the construction of buildings which are not only easy to equipbut can also be refitted at any time, for example for office,commercial, clinical practice, training, hotel or residential purposes,thus guaranteeing a broad neutrality of use and that long-term projectscan be designed. The supply of fluids can be expanded, refitted orscaled back, and also optimised in terms of energy, at any time.

The invention is sufficiently disclosed by the explanations clarifiedabove. Obviously it could also be embodied in further variants. So, forexample, the beams and vertical supports could be produced with closedcross-sectional formats or other suitable profiles. In principle,fibre-reinforced synthetics, such as carbon, could also serve asmaterials for the profiles.

1. Building supporting framework, in particular a high structuresupporting framework, comprising a certain number of vertical supports(2) and a certain number of horizontal beams (3, 4) mutually extendingin transversal directions (X, Y) and stacked on each other on differentplanes, characterised in that the vertical supports (2) and also thebeams (3, 4) are embodied in the form of metal sections comprising atleast partially, at least one cavity (5, 6; 7; 16), the cavities (5, 6)provided in the vertical supports (2) and the cavities (7, 16) providedin the beams (3, 4) being used for receiving fluid-transporting conduits(9; 24; 26; 29), in particular electricity, water, heating/cooling orventilation conduits, and at intersections, where the vertical supports(2) and beams (3, 4) cross each other or converge, they are mutuallyconnected in such a way that the fluid-transporting conduits aredirected in three spatial directions (X, Y, Z) through the supportingstructure (1).
 2. Supporting framework according to claim 1,characterised in that the cavities (5, 6) in the vertical supports (2)are connected with each other via through-openings (20; 22) in thevertical supports (2) and/or in the beams (3, 4).
 3. Supportingframework according to claim 1, characterised in that the respectivevertical support (2) has an H-shaped cross-section and two side walls (2a, 2 b) and also includes a central wall (2 c) linking the side walls (2a, 2 b), thus forming two vertical cavities (5; 6) separated from eachother by the central wall (2 c), while at the respective intersection,on at least one of the side walls (2 a, 2 b) are attached aspace-enclosing horizontal supporting framework (4) with an essentiallyU-shaped cross-section from the outside and at least one further, alsospace-enclosing horizontal supporting framework (3) with an essentiallyU-shaped cross-section at right angles hereto from inside, thehorizontally-running cavities (7; 16) partially enclosed by thesupporting beam (3; 4), being connected via through-openings (20; 22) inthe side walls (2 a, 2 b) and in the central wall (2 c) of the verticalsupport (2) with each other and with the vertically-running cavities (5;6).
 4. Supporting framework according to claim 3, characterised in thatoutside the intersection, a parallel partially or completely enclosingcover (41, 42) of the vertically-running cavities (5; 6) is provided forthe respective central wall (2 c) of the vertical supports (2). 5.Supporting framework according to claim 3, characterised in that thehorizontal supporting beam (3; 4) which has a space-enclosingcross-section is arranged in such a way that the cavities (7; 16) areaccessible from above.
 6. Supporting framework according to claim 5,characterised in that the horizontal beams (3; 4) are provided withsupporting surfaces (4 a′, 4 b′, 4 d, 4 e; 3 a′, 3 b′) on which aceiling or floor construction (10; 11) can be rested, the supportingsurfaces (4 a′, 4 b′, 4 d, 4 e; 3 a′, 3 b′) being arranged so as toproject laterally away from the webs (4 a, 4 b; 3 a, 3 b) of the profilewith a space-enclosing cross-section.
 7. Supporting framework accordingto claim 6, characterised in that, with respect to the beams (4) runningparallel in a direction (Y), one pair of upper supporting surfaces (4a′, 4 b′) formed by flanges are oriented towards each other and one pairof lower supporting surfaces (4 d, 4 e) formed by flanges are orientedoutwards as an extension of the lower flanges (4 c) connecting the webs(4 a, 4 b), on which supporting surfaces a ceiling construction (10) canbe rested from both sides.
 8. Supporting framework according to claim 7,characterised in that the cavities (7; 16) in the horizontal beams (3;4) which are open at the top and/or bottom and/or laterally areaccessible via coverable frames (12) which are provided in a floorconstruction (11) laid on the ceiling construction (10).
 9. Supportingframework according to claim 7, characterised in that the webs (3 a, 3b; 4 a, 4 b) of the beams (3; 4) with a space-enclosing cross-sectionare provided with a number of through-openings (30; 40) distributedalong the beam length to connect the cavities (7; 16) with the ceilingconstruction (10).
 10. Supporting framework according to claim 1,characterised in that the vertical supports (2) and also the beams (3;4) are embodied as profiles made from metal, in particular steel, orfrom another suitable material, such as plastic.
 11. Building with asupporting framework (1) according to claim 1 and withfluid-transporting conduits (9; 24; 26; 29) passing through thesupporting framework (1) which can be passed through the supportingframework (1) in all three spatial and/or supporting frameworkdimensions (X, Y, Z).